Hurston begins by explaining how there are many public accounts of the slave trade, often from the perspective of slave traders, but not nearly enough accounts from the perspective of African people sold as cargo. Cudjo Lewis, born Oluale Kossola, is now among those Africans speaking of their experience. Hurston first met him in 1927 when doing research for Dr. Franz Boas on a raid in Kossola’s hometown. He was aboard the last ship of the slave trade to take African people to the Americas through the Middle Passage in 1859, led by brothers Jim, Tim, and Burns Meaher, and Captain William Foster. The Clotilda, the ship for the voyage, likely belonged to Foster. Because the slave trade was illegal by then, Foster had to be careful as he maneuvered, navigating the waters secretively and bribing officials. Arriving on the west coast of Africa in the Gulf of Guinea, Foster made his way to Dahomey to communicate with the king, who would provide captives. Foster easily found and purchased captives at the coastal barracoons at Whydah.

For the people of Dahomey, the year was divided between wars and festivals. During wartime, the King of Dahomey used an established practice of attacking other nations to gather captives for the lucrative slave trade.